Walking & Hiking

The ideal way to appreciate the scenic beauty of Wicklow is also the most natural way…..simply by walking. Ireland’s temperate climate, especially in Wicklow affords year round walking, hiking and mountain climbing.

Walking and hiking tours for all ages and hiking abilities are readily available in County Wicklow and are guaranteed to put you in touch with the charm and natural beauties of this “Garden of Ireland” at its loveliest.

A County for All Seasons

Hiking and walking tours run all year round so you can pick your season. High season is July and August; mid season May, June, and September; and low season February, March, April and October and November. Each season offers different challenges and different rewards in climate, flora and fauna.

Spring offers new growth, breathtaking fields of wild flowers and a thousand shades of green. Weather can be variable with sudden quick showers followed by rainbows over the mountain peaks.

Summer season in the Irish countryside brings an abundance of young animals and flocks of birds to increase the year round wildlife population, and the terrain is usually dry with trails reaching even the remotest areas.

Autumn brings perfect hiking and walking weather and rich russet shades to the mountainsides with spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

Winter hiking and walking has the advantage of clear, frosty, refreshing mountain air, and the landscapes take on a special beauty after a light snow fall. The hardest weather that Ireland’s winter has to offer can easily be weathered by wearing suitable hiking or walking gear and by staying on trail and avoiding wet and boggy areas.

The Wicklow Mountain range lies just south of Dublin and is the largest unbroken block of elevated ground in Ireland, covering an expanse of mountain ranges about 40 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide. Highest peaks include Lugnaquilla (the “Lug”) at 925 meters, and Mullaghcleevaun (Irish for Top of the Cradle) at 849 meters. The easy accessibility to various elevations means that hikers and climbers can find trails uniquely suited to their levels of experience and ability.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself or your group alone for long periods of time on the trails of Ireland’s unspoiled mountains and hillside landscapes. Hiking in Ireland is a relatively new local pastime and since the entire population of Ireland is less than five million you will never feel crowded or rushed at any stage of your hiking or walking tour. Centuries of Celtic magic and mystery are interwoven with Mother Nature’s bounty in this unspoiled land, rich in archaeology, history, tradition and culture.